fanatical

Fanatical is an adjective describing a person or behavior that shows extreme or uncritical zeal or enthusiasm. It often implies intensity beyond what is considered reasonable or moderate and can apply to devotion to a cause, sport, hobby, or belief. While it can be used descriptively without moral judgment, it most often carries a negative connotation when it suggests rigidity or irrational certainty.

Etymology and sense: The term derives from Latin fanaticus, from Greek fanatikos, originally meaning “pertaining to a temple or divine inspiration” and later “driven by religious frenzy.” In English, the sense broadened to describe passionate, sometimes irrational, devotion rather than strictly religious contexts.

Usage and nuance: In neutral usage, someone might be described as fanatical about a hobby to denote strong commitment. More commonly, it signals disapproval, indicating intolerance, dogmatism, or extreme and uncompromising beliefs. In certain contexts, fanatical attitudes can be associated with extremism or cult-like behavior, though the adjective itself does not inherently imply illegality.

Related terms and distinctions: Related words include fanatic, fanaticism, zealot, and extremism. While all imply intense devotion, fanatical emphasizes excess or uncompromising zeal; it is not interchangeable with simply enthusiastic or devoted, which can carry positive or neutral connotations depending on context.

See also: fanaticism; zealot; extremism; enthusiasm.